Is There a Difference in Prosthesis Results? How do You Judge?

  • Do you need an artificial eye or orbital prosthesis? Then it must match and be symmetrical with your unaffected eye. See eye photo gallery.
  • Do you need a new nose or nasal prosthesis? Then we will study your photos and work with you until you are pleased with the size and shape. See nose photo gallery
  • Do you want a prosthetic ear or a better replacement ear prosthesis? We routinely correct microtia ears and rib cartilage ear reconstructions. See ear photo gallery
  • Did you want a finger or hand prosthesis? Matching to the adjacent fingers and use of highest durability silicones are equally important. See finger photo gallery
  • Were you referred for a custom toe or foot prosthesis?  Our anaplastologists and certified prosthetist team to address both form and function. See foot photo gallery

As specialists in silicone maxillofacial, hand, and foot prosthetics we focus on you and commit the time required for your successful prosthetic outcome. Our locations and prosthetic results make a difference. They increasingly inspire confidence among surgeons, prosthodontists, and our many patients. See our photo galleries.

Realistic Ear, Nose, Eye, Hand, and Foot Prosthetics

A person holding their ear in the shape of an ear.
A man with glasses is looking down at his face.
A woman with glasses and a pair of eyelashes.
A person with their nails and feet before and after they have been painted.

Medical Art Prosthetics is a recognized destination for the most lifelike eye, nose, ear, hand, and foot prostheses. Patients fly to us for the results we proudly demonstrate with close-up clinical photography. We encourage you to ask prosthetics providers to show good quality close up photos of facial and body prosthetics case results like ours. Professional anaplastologists are generally happy to show a cross section of their results in silicone ear, nasal, oculofacial, hand, and foot prosthetics. We want you to be fully informed with accurate expectations so you can really be happy with your new prosthesis.

Please contact us today and tell us about your needs. We would like to help.

Is there a Difference in Prosthetics Providers?

Yes, there is a difference. Ask questions. Look for evidence of anaplastology involvement, including:

  • Before/after photos of the anaplastolgist’s prosthetics results of cases similar to yours.
  • Publications/presentations that demonstrate personal academic advancement.
  • University staff positions that evidence clinical experience.
  • Credentials as a healthcare professional
  • Photos showing the anaplastologist’s familiarity with attachment methods or concepts specific to your situation.

Our clinical anaplastologists have sought to distinguish lifelike facial, hand, and foot prosthetics not as an ancillary service to traditional maxillofacial dentistry or extremity orthotics/prosthetics, but as a flagship service advanced by clinical anaplastology professionals. It is our core competency honed through daily practice spanning 5 decades. This accomplishment is unique in the United States.

These are questions you should ask any provider you are considering for prosthetics:

  • Is the provider trained and experienced in a field of prosthetics?
  • Does the provider have a degree in visual communication or studio arts, such as painting, sculpture, medical illustration, etc?
  • Does the provider hold a degree in a clinical/health science?
  • Does the provider show evidence of their experience with attachment options and share examples of their prosthetics results?
  • Does the provider perform silicone restorations with the necessary regularity that results in convincingly accurate and aesthetic prostheses?
  • Has the provider received favorable or unfavorable professional recognition?

Learn more about accreditations and focus on lifelike prosthetics.

Life-like Color

A person 's ear with an injury on it.

The prosthesis on the left was not created by Medical Art Prosthetics. The coloration is plain and monochromatic which makes the ear look plastic and artificial. The replacement prosthesis we provide to the right is characterized with skin-like surface details such as superficial blood vessels, moles, and freckles.

Deeper layering of yellow tones also creates the illusion of antihelix cartilage beneath the skin and a matted ear lobe connotes fleshy tissues that make the final ear prosthesis more natural more real. Ear prostheses should possess the same colors seen in real anatomy such as pink, amber, scalet, and even lavender all rendered carefully to make your prosthesis look alive.

A close up of an animal 's ear with a no sign on it.
A close up of the inside of an animal

These 2 ear prosthesis examples were not created by Medical Art Prosthetics. They have several problems:

  • Anatomical forms such as the helix (rim) lack definition and refinement.
  • Color is applied mostly on the surface, lacking depth and durability.
  • Surface is bumpy and course, lacking a smooth skin-like texture.

A person 's ear with an injury on it.

The deteriorated bar/clip-retained ear prosthesis was not created by Medical Art Prosthetics. This prosthesis was fracturing throughout the bulk material and separating from the acrylic substructure. The patient resorted to using medical adhesives to hold the prosthesis together.

The new prosthesis we provided utilized a high performance medical silicone with proper appropriate characterization and a mechanically anchored bar/clip substructure for greater integrity and durability.

A person 's ear with an injury on it.

This patient wore 2 different older prostheses NOT provided by Medical Art Prosthetics. They both were made in a non-standard material and lack correct size and color characterization and opacity. They are too translucent. Our prosthesis addressed these issues.

A person 's ear with an injury on it.

This collage documents a patient’s bar/clip osseointegration-retention system and two prosthesis attempts that she had received elsewhere. Here we see the new prosthesis that she received from Medical Art Prosthetics and a comparison of the ear prosthesis treatments.

A person 's ear with an injury on it.

The patient’s older implant-retained ear prosthesis (NOT provided by Medical Art Prosthetics) was fitted with an ordinary samarium cobalt non-sealed magnet which corroded causing skin irritation and attachment failure. We prepared a new auricular prosthesis with a powerful low-profile neodymium iron boron magnet encased and sealed in corrosion-proof and inert titanium. All materials used by Medical Art Prosthetics are biocompatible, safe and designed to last years.

A woman 's ear with different pictures of the same image.
A man 's ear with different types of surgery.
A man with various ear lobe and ear canal.

The ear prosthesis created by Medical Art Prosthetics is often photographed next to the unaffected ear to evaluate not only the development of accurate color characterization, but also to verify that the prosthesis will continue to match the unaffected ear color as our client is seen in different lighting situations. The examples illustrate how the ear prosthesis matches with natural light and a flash. Photographs of the older ear prosthesis (Red X) are sometimes taken next to the new prosthesis we created to document the improvements over the deteriorated obsolete prosthesis. These images are intended to be educational and helpful to the consumer. They illustrate our attention to detail and our artistic ability to faithfully capture these details in prosthetic silicone.

Choose Prosthesis Detail Specialists. It Matters!

“I was never happy with my previous prosthesis”, or, “I wish I could improve my prosthesis result”.  If you have said this, Let Us Help You!

Many clients come to us unhappy with the prosthesis they received elsewhere. Super accurate and lifelike prosthetic eyes, nose prosthesis, ear prosthetics, and hand/foot prosthetics demand specialized artistic practitioners who sweat the details. We know that details really matter to the final outcome.

Look closely at the work of Medical Art Prosthetics. We specialize in highly life-like silicone maxillofacial, hand, and foot prosthetics. We know about the parameters in judging aesthetic results, and our network team of anaplastologists:

  • Have decades of experience with implant-retained prostheses.
  • Know the best prosthetic adhesives and silicones
  • Employ the most user-friendly fitting strategies
  • Prepare you with the best aftercare guidance to maximize your user experience.
A close up of an ear with a no sign in the middle
A picture of an ear with a no sign on it.
A sandwich with no crust and no bread.
A close up of the back of a person 's foot
A man with no nose and mustache.
A hand with a tattoo on it and a no symbol in the background.
A person 's hand with a ring on it and a watch in the background.
A close up of an animal 's ear with a no sign on it.
A close up of an ear with the symbol for no
A close up of an ear with the symbol for no

Medical Art Prosthetics designs new ear (auricular) prostheses for individuals from across the country who are ready for a new or a better ear prosthesis.

The difference in the level of care and precision that go into the design of your ear prosthesis may be difficult for you and others to appreciate. For this reason we critique some sample ear prostheses that were not created by Medical Art Prosthetics. The sample ear prostheses shown here were created by various practitioners in a variety of settings. We respectfully acknowledge that each prosthetic ear was very likely delivered in a professional manner with great care. We respect the dedication and effort of every professional. But we are confident we can make you happier with your ear prosthesis. The improvements we offer in aesthetics and durability can be dramatic and have a dramatic effect on the way you feel about your appearance. Therefore, we as professionals feel compelled to educate in any way that helps you with informed decision making.

In these comparisons the other provider’s prostheses are not faulted on the basis of their deterioration. All ear prostheses are subject to some discoloration and degradation over time. However, in viewing these prosthetic ears there is evidence of inferior materials selection, anatomical detail, or color definition and surface texture. Patients still often wear their current ear prostheses when they come to our offices, but they always leave feeling that we have improved their experience of wearing an ear prosthesis. We applaud all the efforts of our colleagues in the prosthetics fields, but we specialize. In auricular ear prosthetics that can make a world of difference in your life.

Medical Art Prosthetics has decades of experience in making and fitting extremely accurate silicone eye/orbital prosthetics. We are here to show you the eye prosthesis results that make a diference for you. When we design your silicone eye/orbital prostheses our goal is to achieve maximum accuracy and naturalism in a set gaze. Here we introduce a simple test to demonstrate the basic quality and effectiveness of our typical outcomes in prosthetic orbital eye prosthetic restoration.

Our goal is to achieve what we have termed Visual Integration of the eye prosthesis.

Some wear a larger orbital restorative prosthesis we sometimes refer to as an upper facial prosthesis or a hemifacial prosthesis. These larger versions all include the prosthetic eye (ocular prosthesis), but they also may include the eyebrow or the nose or the cheek area. Knowing this, is the extent of the prosthetic restoration readily obvious? At a glance, would you even detect that the individual wears an orbital prosthesis? If the answer is no, then the wearer can interact confidently knowing they have the most convincing and accurate restoration possible. This accomplishment we call successful visual integration of the prosthesis.

All patients are encouraged to select attractive eyewear for protecting the sighted eye and to enhance the overall effect of the restoration. Glasses, even safety glasses as demonstrated by some in these examples very effectively cast shadows and refract light to obscure transitions and soften the fixed gaze of the eye.

The other main factor in considering what contributes to success in orbital prosthetics is how effectively the prosthesis attaches not just how secure it is, but how easy it is to position, to remove and to care for without undue concern about damaging the exquisite detail instilled in the prosthesis. An orbital prosthesis that is attractive, durable AND manageable by the patient such that it worn most every day has achieved what Medical Art Prosthetics has defined as Functional Integration.

If you have lost your whole nose or a part of your nose we want to help. There is a difference in the training and artistic ability of each type of provider. This difeference may dramatically affect how you feel when you apply your prosthetic nose restoration to wear in public. Our practitioners are specialists in nasal and facial prosthetic restoration, and this will make a life-changing difference for you.

For starters, a little education: You might find these prostheses referred to as a nose prosthesis, nasal prosthesis, midfacial prosthesis, or extraoral maxillofacial prosthetics. These terms should not confuse you. In general all prosthetics to restore the nose are made out of silicone elastomer which is a flexible rubber-like medical polymer material. Next, do you need:

  • a partial nose prosthesis to restore or cover the tip your nose
  • a partial nasal prosthesis to rebuild the ala or side of your nose
  • a small prosthesis to fill a dip in the bridge of your nose
  • the entire nose, perhaps part of the cheek too?

Regardless, we know you want it to fit and match perfectly. That is a challenge that many providers attempt, because they want to help. We understand this, but we still believe our commitment to this specialty is unsurpassed, and it makes a big difference. There is a difference in the degree of success in each and every nose prosthesis outcome. We want to share and illustrate the differences that will make a tremendous difference in your confidence each day.

If you need finger, hand, toe, or partial foot prosthetics then Medical Art Prosthetics offers a distinct difference. We act as both a team and a network:

  • in case you need collaborative efforts we communicate as a team of 6 clinicians
  • we have experience and credentials in both anaplastology arts and in extremity functional prosthetics
  • in case you relocate across the country we will be accessible

We are not only anaplastologists. This means you have ALL prosthetic options; both aesthetic AND functional! Extremity prosthetist certification credentials might make the difference if your prosthetic hand restoration or foot prosthesis is considered as a medical prosthetic device requiring medical justification for insurance approval. We are also certified to provide other lines of lifelike prosthetic restorations such as Livingskin by Ossur, in case price makes the difference. The differences with the Medical Art Prosthetics network are:

  • 6 member anaplastologist-prosthetist team approach
  • 8 or more nationwide locations
  • anaplastologist-created highest level of detail finger and toe prosthetics
  • optional Livingskin silicone hand and foot prostheses by Ossur Prosthetics
  • functioning finger prosthetics and partial hand prosthetics devices (Naked Prosthetics, Point Designs, Partial Hand Solutions)